RI may vote on changing state name over slavery

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PROVIDENCE—Rhode Islanders may get a chance to shorten the state’s longest-in-the-nation formal name over its ties to colonial slavery.

Officially, Rhode Island is called the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

But the House Judiciary Committee approved a resolution Tuesday that would allow residents to vote next year on whether to drop the words “Providence Plantations” from that name.

The issue now heads for a House floor vote.

Supporters say “Providence Plantations” conjures painful images of colonial slavery. Rhode Island merchants grew wealthy off the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Others argue that changing the state’s name wipes away part of its heritage. Providence Plantation was the settlement founded by 17th-century religious dissident Roger Williams, who supported the
separation of church and state.

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Reader Reactions

Flag Comment Posted by littleone on October 30, 2009 at 8:25 am

There are also 5 cities that have a street named Plantation dr,st,lane, are we going to change those too?

Flag Comment Posted by Lola3 on October 29, 2009 at 6:23 pm

OMG!!!!! They are actually spending time deciding on whether to change the name of RI, and how boiling a lobster may be inhumane…..I think we should boil the Judiciary committee because they must be sitting around scratching their tiny little minds on this one!!! What a waste of taxpayers money…I am so disgusted with RI and US government, I really would like to see a socialist government….this democratic one is not working!!!!

Flag Comment Posted by DoraBil on October 29, 2009 at 1:49 pm

I think some have forgotten or never knew that Roger Williams founded Providence Plantations to escape religious bigotry in the Pilgrim community of Massachusetts. Providence Plantations came first and then Rhode Island was added to it, not the other way around.

Flag Comment Posted by AlfaRacer1 on October 29, 2009 at 10:59 am

How about “Rogue’s” Island, and the Land of Political Correctness

Flag Comment Posted by nonparla on October 29, 2009 at 9:02 am

Lets just erase all evidence of history and how we evolved.
Lets start from scratch and make the same mistakes.   
There are many more offensive things happening in our state that nobody puts any effort into changing.  So here we are sepnding time and money on changing the name.
Lets change it to “How Embarrassing can a state be?“
or Maybe “Venal Island”
How about “Corrupt are us”

“The Oceans Eleven State”

Flag Comment Posted by Nurse2010 on October 29, 2009 at 8:20 am

First and foremost….. Amen Freak, totally agree.

Second..

Posted by Smitty on October 28, 2009 at 6:16 pm
NWRI—It’s not that the people are looking for a ‘handout’, it’s that they’re ‘not comfortable’ with the word plantations.  In other words, it’s a non-issue that is being made an issue by the few that want the name change—and it seems the politicians are bending to the will of the minority—as usual.

Agree with Smitty as well. It’s “white guilt” at its finest. We’re seeing more and more reverse racism every day, especially when it comes to petty issues such as this whole name change. Can’t even explain how much this burns my a$$. Once again, it’s HISTORY and it’s not supposed to change, get over it!

Flag Comment Posted by caddy495 on October 29, 2009 at 8:03 am

Give me a break.  I am so tired of people trying to change history.  All that history is want we learn from.  What makes you so sure that changing anything will be for the good.  We learn from our mistakes.  People should worry about changing our country now.  We are going down the tubes.  This goverment has bigging worries to deal with than a name change.  Leave the name alone and work on helping this economy.

Flag Comment Posted by Freak1 on October 29, 2009 at 7:22 am

Thank you for the compliment Smitty glad to see you understand me.

Flag Comment Posted by Chesapeake on October 28, 2009 at 10:04 pm

LOBSTER BILL GOES BEFORE SENATE

The Associated Press
Published: October 27, 2019
Updated: October 27, 2019

Rhode Island legislators met today to sign a bill into law that would make boiling a live lobster a felony. Animal rights activists
have convinced lawmakers that lobsters do in fact have feelings and the legislation to protect the crustacean from a painful death is long overdue.

If the Bill passes, it would require a perspective diner to put the lobster to death in a humane manner before cooking it.

Greg Turner spokesman for animal rights asks what does this say about our heritage that Rhode Island would allow this barbaric act to continue. He also praised Capitol Hill for there participation and involvement at their last gala event by allowing the lobsters that were to be consumed, sit in on a legislative session where they were bored to death, cooked and eaten.

Flag Comment Posted by Jackkb on October 28, 2009 at 8:37 pm

I am so tired of this sort of thing where are all the historicly correct people who dont mind screwing over a home owner but let this happen. The states name is the states name changing it does nothing. If these legistators and other have the new white guilt complex let them take meds or something but work on something that helps the state like lets see jobs maybe. And before some moron decides to call me a racist I have a racial heritage that has a right more than any other in this country slaves or anyone since it is native to this country. If I dont have a problem why should anyone geeze get a life.

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